BRIDGETON — A Save the Library!-sponsored lecture on area Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape history had to be canceled following a threat of protests.

Dr. Marshall Becker, the scheduled speaker who is also Professor Emeritus in Anthropology at West Chester University, would have delivered that lecture, which hadn’t even been officially announced.

“In the past,” began tribe Chief Mark “Quiet Hawk” Gould, “he has made some very derogatory statements that don’t sit right with the Native American community.”

Gould declined to provide specific examples of such statements but said opposition also came from a Dr. Bonita Evans.

“Do I agree with Bonita? Yes, because I’ve experienced some of this but do I agree with the tactics — I don’t know.,” Gould said. “If you are able to perpetuate a lie because you have a PhD, I don’t think that’s fair.”

Gould isn’t alone in his distaste for Becker’s research, either, and said protests are a result of “the lies.”

"I'm not mad at this man. He has an opinion," Gould noted, adding that to refute the claims would only fuel the argument.

Becker is a published author and frequent speaker at free public lectures with more than 40 years of research history to his name. He has a primary interest in culture change among native peoples and their contact with early European traders and colonists.He has recently turned attention to the “native peoples of southern New Jersey,” according to emails provided to The News.

Though he hasn’t reached a final conclusion yet, Becker explained Monday that much of the opposition comes following his research into Native genealogy — specifically a lack of evidence to support certain claims of descent.

"If these people are claiming (Native American) descent and getting money from the state...,” Becker posed.

Federal and state recognition of tribes is essential for the groups to be eligible for funding set aside for American Indians. The local Lenni-Lenape were recognized by the state through resolution in 1982.

Becker said he recently discovered documents on South Jersey natives that included problematical dates and descendants taking on European surnames, traceable genealogically and in Census records.

He emphasized that he has yet to reach a conclusion but hasn’t been provided with evidence to refute the claims.

Penny Watson, of Save the Library! (STL!), said she extended an invitation to Becker after hearing about a presentation he made in Middlesex County. Though the event here on April 29 had to be canceled, Watson said the group is “still working things out.” She declined further comment on the matter.

According to the emails, a local member of the tribe was contacted by Watson with word of the upcoming lecture. A member of the tribe then contacted a Pennsylvania woman, who then apparently contacted Watson.

“In a hostile telephone conversation with Penny, she threatened the library with ‘demonstrations in front of the library’ and ‘letters to Trenton’ if this presentation were to take place. Additionally, she said she had to take the lead because the local tribe is unable to protect itself,” the email reads.

Becker said the anonymous attacks are troubling, but “there are individuals who feel that there is much to lose, financially, in allowing a scholar to disseminate his findings.”STL! reluctantly chose to cancel the program and avoid the possible negative implications of going ahead with Becker.

He was allowed to keep an advance payment on a $250 deposit, covered by the Cultural and Heritage Commission.